Chain cleaning apparatus



Jan. 27, 1942. LATHRQP 2,271,436

CHAIN CLEANING; APPARATUS Filed April 12, 1940 T Q E In INV E NTOR= HGRRY l2 LQTHROP Y B QMWWMM. W. 1

veying chains without. interrupting operation.

de e o and W p y under the action I the chain so that there will beno tendency of the g p ration. The articles conveyed often de- It has been found that the use of a plurality of DOS the Chains d particles of and jets from difierent directions is much more efother substances which act like abrasives, parfective in removing foreign substances and is vticlllarly on link conveyer Chains, O Otherwise much more economical in the. use of steam than oil or other lubricant which is placed on each 'The'specific form of the nozzles and chain link. Unless p p y removed, S foreign guide l depends, of course, onthe character of v substances mixed with the lubricant substantially the conveyer. Forexample, a double chain conshorten the life of the'conveyer chain and parveyer. would require duplication of the nozzles ticularly the socket portions of the links. j as well as the guide.

The illustrative apparatus provides means for When steam pressures of the order of one efiecting cleansing without interruption of opu hundred pounds per square inch are employed,

i eration of the conveyer. Jets of steamjunder 5 there is substantial.superheating of the steam as substantia1 velocity are directed from a-plurality it'issues fromythe nozzle. This avoids condenjets. erationof theiconveye'r;generallyit need be put a minimum of turbulence. As here shown, the device.

common supply line I 4.

Patented J... 7, 1942 g 1 2,271,436

' 1 r 2,271,435" f CHAIN CLEANINGAPPARATUS; ;.f i f HarryD. Lath'rol Chicagolllli', slammrh s Lathrop-Pauls'on Company, Chicago, 111,, a cor-- notation of Illinoisfl, Z 2'3 i f a .fAppucajtim'i'lipriiiz', 1940, Seril,N0.:- 329,29 Qj'...

ns: (c 1.98422 I v This invention relates to cleaning and protecportion iof'therun of the conveyer chain so that 7 tion of 'conveyer chains and the like; and, among thecarticles carried by'the. conveyer ,will not inother objects, aims to provide a simple and efii' terfere with the cleahingoperation. Preferably cient apparatus for-cleaning conveyers and conthe; chain is supported by a guide 15 in the form iof. a channelas itpasses through the cleaning J ,The nature ofthe invention may be readily j apparatusin order to hold the chain in a fixed understood by reference to one illustrative appa: relation to the nozzles, This permits the nozzles ratusembodying e invention and shownin the to ,bezbrought very close to the chain (without accompanying drawing. r Y danger of ,collision of the chain with the noz- In said drawing: v v v 10; zles), thereby increasingythe efiiciency of the Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus taken steam jets. The nozzles are preferably arranged longitudinally of a' conveyer chain aIlQJShQWf in relation to the chain to deliver the steam jets ing a section of the latter; and Fig. 2 is an eleagainst the-chain from the directions best calvation of the apparatus taken transversely :of culatedito remove foreign substances from the theiconveyer c d showing a section of conchain. In the particular chain. illustrated, .the veyer chain and a supporting guideway there- 4 jets are directed against the upper and lower fora, i g i facesofthechain links. :Preferablythe'nozzles Co ey s, and. particularly conveyer c i s. arerelativelyoffset-in the direction-of travel or of foreign substances which 0011601; thereon durjets to impinge against. or. neutralize each other,

terfere with the conveyer. These abrasive maa single jet. The chain guide is also cut away terials are picked up and held on thelinks and as. at [6 so as not to obstruct the free action particularly the socket portions because of the r of thefsteam. jets, i

of directions against the conveyer chain and sation of moisture on the chain. withattendant other portions of the conveyer requiring cleanrusting. a

ing. The action of the jets of steam is such that If desired, the apparatus may be enclosed in thecleaning is efiected without'reduction of speed 40 an appropriate housing toreduce noise and'preof travel of the conveyer and simply by passing vent uncontrolled escape of steam. While the the conveyer chain or the like through the steam apparatus maybe used continuously during op- The conveyer is here represented by a single in operation only :for such portion of the period chain l0 comprising flexibly connected links ll. of-operation of the conveyer as isnecessary to In this instance, the steam jets are directed preventv harmful accumulation of foreign subagainst the chain from opposite directions by stances on the chain. nozzles I2 whose width (see Fig, 2) is great Thecleaning device may be supported in any enough to embrace the width of the conveyer desiredmanner. In the illustrations given, it chain. The nozzles are advantageously designed is shown supported by abracket arm [1, extendto develop a wide, thin jet of highvelocity with ing from the frame l8 of a conveyor or other nozzles 12 may be connected by pipes l3 with a The; heat of the steam aids inlbreaking up I v the oily and gummy'abrasive accumulations and The apparatus is preferably located at an idle 5 the direct physical blasting force of the steam strips the foreign material from the links and particularly from the socket portions thereof.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the details of the illustrative apparatus since these may be variously modified. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used conjointly since various features may be used to advantage in different combinations and sub-combinations.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character set forth, a conveyor track, a conveyor carried by said track and guided thereon, a plurality of nozzles located in close proximity to the chain and adapted to deliver a cleaning fluid against the chain, said nozzles being located on opposite sides of the chain and offset longitudinally with respect to each other, said track having an opening therein in registry with said nozzles to permit free travel of the cleaning fluid through the chain.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth, a conveyor track equipped with bottom and side walls, said track having an opening therein, and at least two nozzles for directing a cleaning fluid against the chain, said nozzles being located on opposite sides of the chain and in close proximity thereto and being shaped to deliver against the chain a thin jet Whose width is substantially that of the chain, the opening in said track being in registry with said jets to permit free travel of the cleaning fluid through the chain.

3. In combination, a conveyor track equipped with a bottom wall and side walls, a conveyor chain consisting of rectangular chain links equipped with interlocking ball and socket connections, a nozzle supported directly above said track in close proximity to the top of the chain and adapted to direct cleaning fluid downwardly, and a second nozzle supported below said track to direct cleaning fluid upwardly against the bottom of said chain, said track being provided with a longitudinal opening through which cleaning fluid delivered from either of said nozzles may pass.

4. In combination, a conveyor track provided with a longitudinal opening in the bottom thereof, a conveyor chain comprising links which engag marginal portions in said track adjacent said opening so as to move over said opening, said links being provided with a central sprocket opening and with interlocking ball and socket connections, a nozzle supported above said chain, and a' nozzle supported below said track, said nozzles being offset longitudinally and being in registry with said opening in the conveyor track so that the cleaning fluid may pass through said chain.

5. Apparatus for cleaning conveyer chains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of steam nozzles located in close proximity to the chain at an idle portion of the run of the chain, said nozzles being shaped to deliver against the chain a thin steam jet whose width is substantially that of the chain, a guide for supporting said chain in fixed relation to said nozzles as the chain traverses the steam-jets, said nozzles being located on opposite sides of the chain and in close proximity thereto and being offset longitudinally of the chain so that the steam jets do not impinge'against each other, said guide having an opening therein in register with said jets to permit free travel of the steam jets through the chain.

HARRY D. LATHROPL 

